SYDNEY, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Woodside Petroleum, Australia's biggest oil and gas company, reported a 98 percent surge in full-year net profit on Wednesday, beating analyst expectations.

Woodside said its profit after tax rose to $2.983 billion in 2012 from $1.51 billion in the previous year, above an analyst consensus forecast of $2.037 billion.

Woodside produced 84.9 million barrels of oil equivalent in 2012, boosted by stronger than expected output from its A$15 billion ($15.5 billion) Pluto liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant that came online in May.

(Reporting By Jane Wardell; Editing by Richard Pullin) Keywords: AUSTRALIA WOODSIDE/EARNINGS

(jane.wardell@thomsonreuters.com)(+61 2 9373 1817)(Reuters Messaging: jane.wardell.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)

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